Daisy Arseneault and Lindsay Laur, of Splash for Free 2013, have won their fight to make the Lions Lagoon splash pad free to the public.

Splashing for free at Lions Lagoon

By James Jackson, Chronicle staff

The city is finally taking down the barriers to the Lions Lagoon splash pad in Waterloo Park, making it free to everyone starting June 1.

Council passed the motion unanimously Monday night, approving $30,000 in funding from a reserve fund for 2013 and 2014 and instructed staff to incorporate the change into the 2015 operating budget.

The news was sweet relief for Daisy Arseneault and Lindsay Laur, who have been campaigning and fundraising since last summer to make the space free in time for the 2013 season.

“As a person who grew up in poverty, I can attest to the quality of life free municipal services gave myself, my three brothers and my family,” said Arseneault in a tearful address to council. “We have been impressed and grateful of staff and wholeheartedly support their recommendations.”

Before the change, anyone over the age of one entering the pad had to pay an entrance fee of $2.50. Average attendance over the past three years has been a little more than 31,000 people, generating an average revenue of $70,000 for the city and surpassing the operating expenses of $48,000.

Laur and Arseneault founded a group called Splash for Free in 2013 that argued similar municipalities across the province offer comparable facilities for free, including Kitchener, Cambridge and London.

The funding is made possible through a reduction in student staffing at the park. Only one summer staffer will be on site at various times throughout the day, saving $21,500. A portion of the fence surrounding the lagoon will also be removed to enable open access.

In 2012, the city offered two free splash days at Lions Lagoon. The first on June 13 to coincide with parks and recreation month and the second was Aug. 30 to support the fundraising efforts of Splash for Free.

The group raised $200 that day and $2,000 overall through a series of fundraisers.

Coun. Jeff Henry was in favour of the idea but reluctant to do away with a portion of the fence.

One Response to “Splashing for free at Lions Lagoon”

It’s nice that the City of Waterloo has finally eliminated the splash pad fee. Now there are at least two more things to do:
1. Close down the pathetic, Victorian-era zoo. It’s a disgrace.
2. Move the splash pad elsewhere in the park so a private developer can build a nice restaurant overlooking Silver Lake.